Camping in the Sylvania Wilderness Area

Mammoth pines, loon-scudded waters, wolf tracks on a muddy trail, grand winter blizzards -- the Sylvania Wilderness in the southwestern corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula ("the U.P.") is an archetypal North Woods landscape. Fast against the Wisconsin border, this special place boasts one of the precious remaining tracts of virgin northern-hardwood forest in the Upper Midwest. Campers here pitch their tents beside cold, clear lakes amid huge, primal woods.

Physical Setting

• The Sylvania Wilderness lies in that stateside portion of the Canadian Shield -- the rocky exposed core of the North American continent -- called the Superior Upland; in parts of northern Wisconsin and the western U.P., this rough, heavily timbered region is sometimes referred to as the Northern Highlands. One of the great Pleistocene continental glaciers, the Wisconsin, deposited the Sylvania’s defining landform: the rolling rampart of ice-transported sediment called the Winegar Moraine. Chunks of ice melted within the moraine left hollows called "kettles," many of which are filled with water. Impressive virgin timber cloaks the wilderness, and some 35 lakes, many rimmed by little sand beaches, are scattered within its bounds.

The Wilderness Complex

• About seven miles west of Watersmeet and 40 miles east of Ironwood, the Sylvania Wilderness was once the private domain of an outdoors club -- a fact that spared it from the axe during the widespread North Woods logging of the early 20th century -- before being acquired by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1960s. Immediately across the road forming its northern border is the smaller Sylvania Recreation Area; together the wilderness and recreation area cover over 18,000 square miles. The Sylvania complex is encompassed by the Ottawa National Forest. A permit is required for entry into the wilderness portion.

Sylvania Camping

• There are 50 established campsites in the Sylvania Wilderness, spread along the shores of eight lakes: Clark, High, West Bear, East Bear, Crooked, Mountain, Whitefish and Loon. From May 15 to September 30, all must be secured with a reservation available from the Sylvania Entrance Station, which involves viewing a video about Leave-No-Trace backcountry practices. Outside that time frame, the sites are first-come, first-served. Each site boasts a grilled fire ring, a latrine and a pad for tents. To the north, the Sylvania Recreation Area includes Clark Lake Campground, which has 48 drive-in campsites -- allowing car campers the chance to set up a base from which to hike or paddle into the official wilderness area. The recreation area also has showers, among other amenities. At time of publication, Sylvania Wilderness sites cost $10 per night, while those at Clark Lake Campground were $16 per night.

Attractions

• Exploring some of the most pristine and wild country in the Upper Midwest is the prime attraction of the Sylvania Wilderness. Barely ever logged, the northern mixed-hardwood forests here are magnificent old-growth cathedrals of sugar maple, white pine, red pine, yellow birch, eastern hemlock and other great trees. Many of these veterans likely seeded after wildfires in the 17th century, and thus are 400 or more years old. Alongside easily seen ravens and white-tailed deer, there’s also the chance to spot more elusive wildlife -- from fishers and martens to gray wolves, moose and black bears.

Read More ..... »

Camping Near Ka Lae, Hawaii

One of the main attractions at Ka Lae is Hawaii's only green sand beach, Papakolea, which is tinted by olivine crystal that falls from an eroding cinder cone. Also known as South Point, Ka Lae is the southernmost point of land in the United States. It is here in the Kau District where the first Hawaiians landed: Polynesian explorers who, navigating by the stars, paddled their double-hulled canoes thousands of miles before discovering the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific. At South Point, home to Hawaiian temples and the island's first fishing villages, ancient canoe moorings juxtapose with remote-control boats that today’s fishermen use to cast lines in the face of rough seas and winds. Camping nearby lets you spend more than a day experiencing this sacred and interesting place.

Honuapo

• Fall asleep to the sounds of the surf at Whittington Beach Park, less than 10 minutes from Ka Lae. Morning almost always brings sunshine, with a beautiful view of Honuapo Bay. The quality of light at Honuapo deeply saturates the coastline's colors, from its tropical flowers to blue water crashing on black rocks. Dirt roads lead to viewing points and large ponds. The Hawaii County campground provides fire pits, grills, shelters and restrooms. Unfortunately, as with many coastal campgrounds in Hawaii, theft is not uncommon, so don't leave belongings unattended. The park's history is of special significance to the local community and Native Hawaiians, and the estuaries and coast protect and provide habitat to many native and endangered flora and fauna. The ocean is too rough for swimming here, but many of the ponds are large enough to swim in.

Punaluu

• When visitors speak of “the black sand beach,” you can bet they mean Punaluu Beach Park in Puna District. Most beaches on this windward side of Hawaii Island have gray to black sand -- a mixture of glassy, jet-black lava rock and eroded coral and shells -- but Punaluu's high content of lava rock makes the sands shimmer, contrasting with vivid blue water and green palms. Punaluu is kissed with more sunshine than most windward beaches, and its main beach is one of Hawaii's few nesting grounds for the endangered hawksbill turtle. The campground, about 30 minutes from South Point, perches on a lawn overlooking the main beach and the first of a series of coves children and green sea turtles often share. You can pitch your tent on an open lawn adjacent to the restrooms. School days are quietest at this popular campground.

Hookena

• Kayaking and spinner dolphins headline at Hookena Beach Park in South Kona District. Concessionaires at Camp Hookena rent a variety of kayaks, as well as snorkeling and camping gear. When the water's calm, paddle in a peekaboo kayak or snorkel over the reef to see turtles and colorful fish. Spinner dolphins are seen early in the morning before they retire after a busy night fishing. Bring binoculars to enjoy the dolphins from a distance. As with most Hawaii beach campgrounds, tents are pitched in an open area. Hookena has restrooms, outdoor showers, campfire rings and picnic tables. Friends of Hookena manages the Hawaii County beach, which is about a 40-minute drive from Ka Lae.

Volcanoes National Park

• The most peaceful campground near Ka Lae rests at Kilauea's summit in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Fragrant eucalyptus trees shade Namakanipaio Campground, where you can pitch your tent on the open lawn or rent a camper cabin and have access to hot showers. The temperate rain forest, averaging 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, offers respite from hot and arid Ka Lae. At night, under a starry sky, enjoy your outdoor fireplace when temperatures plummet to the 40s and sometimes lower. Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, sends rivulets of lava toward the sea, not the campground. Halemaumau, though, glows at night, and you can get a closer look from Thomas Jaggar Museum. The museum in the park has a mural depicting the early Hawaiians landing at South Point. Namakanaipaio Campground is in northern Kau, about one hour from Ka Lae.

Read More ..... »

Campgrounds Near Riverside, California

Riverside, one of California’s largest cities, allows your visit to blend cultural attractions with the soothing nature of gardens and surrounding mountains and hills. The city’s elaborate architecture hearkens back to the turn of the 20th century, when citrus was king in Southern California and Riverside was its throne. The Mission Inn, a Spanish-revival hotel turned museum, is the city’s crown jewel, while the California Citrus State Historic Park preserves a slice of its orange grove days. The Riverside Art Museum shares an architect, Julia Morgan, with Central California’s Hearst Castle; technology museums include the UCR/California Museum of Photography. With mild winters and hot summers, visitors and residents alike enjoy camping year-round.

Urban Camping

• About 10 minutes from downtown Riverside, Rancho Jurupa Regional Park offers outdoor fun for all, including a rock-climbing playground, aquatic zero-depth playground, disc and miniature golf courses and two fishing lakes -- anglers 16 years of age and older need a California fishing license. Hiking and mountain biking trails crisscross the 200-acre park, and it’s a 1-mile walk to the Louis Robidoux Nature Center. Cottonwoods and waterfalls add to the relaxing beauty of the park. Outdoorsy types enjoy Lakeview Campground and its campfire rings; Cottonwood Campground provides RV campers with full hookups, WiFi, cable and other conveniences.

Nearest Lake Campground

• About 20 minutes from Riverside, a 2,000-acre reservoir awaits. Lake Perris Recreational Area has two swimming beaches -- one also used by scuba divers. You'll find trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians; a big rock with several climbing routes; boating; and fishing -- rainbow trout, Alabama spotted bass and catfish are on the main menu. A California fishing license is required of anglers 16 and over. The Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum shares the area’s past. The campground includes 264 RV 30-by-30-foot sites with full hookups, 167 tent sites and a campfire ring at each site. Water, restrooms, showers, a first aid station and accessible restrooms, boat dock and campsites are on hand. Lake Perris’ campsites are booked months ahead for holidays and summer weekends.

Alpine

• Drive about 75 minutes north of Riverside to the San Bernardino Mountains, where Big Bear Lake awaits. Tents and RVs up to 55 feet are accommodated at Serrano Campground, which sits on the alpine lake's quieter north shore but within a few minutes of the south shore's marina. Motor boating, paddling, fishing -- with a California fishing license -- and swimming are among the activities at Big Bear, as well as hiking and horseback riding. Inland Empire Fodor’s Choice Sights gives a nod to the Big Bear Discovery Center, which sits about a mile from the campground. Open March through December, Serrano has 92 campsites with fire rings. A camp host, drinking water, showers, full hookups and a dump station make it a nice family campground for tent and RV campers. Leashed pets are welcome.

More Lake Campgrounds

• Frank G. Bonelli and Yucapia regional parks are open year-round and within about 30 minutes of Riverside. Bonelli, with its Puddingstone Reservoir, has seasonal swimming and year-round boating, fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Concessionaires rent boats, provide horse tours, manage a hot tub resort on the hill and run the year-round campground with 517 RV sites and 25 wilderness tent sites. Perks include campfire rings, a pool, showers, restrooms and 24-hour ranger service. The seasonal water park, Raging Waters, provides thrills next to the lake. L.A. Fair vendors book for September a year in advance. Yucaipa’s lakes have a seasonal swimming beach with water slides and year-round boating and fishing. Hiking trails honeycomb the hillsides. You can reserve one of nine tent sites and 42 full hookup RV sites, all with campfire rings. Restrooms and hot showers are among the conveniences.

Considerations

• Check the campground’s website for special events that might mean reserving early or choosing a different campground. Prepare for the wilderness, even the urban wilderness, by storing food securely. Coyotes, bears and rattlesnakes are among the critters that might share the campground with you, so also check the website for safety tips.

Read More ..... »

RV Camping in the Silverwood Theme Park Area

The fun at Silverwood Theme Park, near the tiny town of Athol in North Idaho, revolves around the rides and water park. The seasonal park boasts more than 65 rides that include four roller coasters, thrill rides, kiddie rides and a steam engine train that makes its way around the park. Once tired of the rides, guests can enjoy live entertainment, gardens, cafes or -- also on the grounds -- Boulder Beach water park, with the Lazy River and Rumble Falls. Admission price covers entry into both parks. After a day at the park, RV campers can stay on the park grounds or venture farther off to explore and experience the area.

Silverwood RV Park

• While the Silverwood RV Park sits in the middle of the pines, the traffic from Interstate 95 is still less than 1 mile away, so you're not in a quiet location. The park is clean, well cared for and, most important, has immediate access to all the rides via an underground tunnel. The seasonal campground has 132 full hookups, including water, 30-amp power and sewer, propane refills, a convenience store and a play and picnic area. Discounted tickets to the theme and water park are available.

Farragut State Park

• For a quieter RV camping experience, head 4 miles east of Silverwood on Highway 54 to Farragut State Park. You can camp year round in the midst of 4,000 acres of pines at the south end of Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in Idaho. There are 217 individual RV campsites. Most have central water; many have both water and electric on-site. Modern restrooms have showers; there's also an RV sanitation dump station. If you take a break from Silverwood and stay in the park, you can fish, hike, bike, ride horses, play disc golf or, in the summer, swim in the lake. The Eagle Boat Launch on the south side of the lake is a fee-based launch. In winter, enjoy miles of cross-country and snowmobile trails.
• Round Lake State Park

• A little farther up the road you can choose from 51 RV sites open year round at Round Lake State Park. In summer the lake is open for swimming, canoeing, paddle boating and fishing. There's ADA access, a dump station and restrooms with both flush and pit toilets. A visitor's center, open during the summer season, offers information and programs, and the general store allows you to stock up on supplies. There are picnic tables and fire pits, with firewood available for purchase. Round Lake is 18 miles north of Silverwood.

Considerations and Attractions

• North Idaho, the home of Silverwood Theme Park, is known to locals as the "Lakes District of Idaho," because there are about 55 area lakes. RV campers can take advantage of outdoor recreational activities including boating, fishing and water skiing in summer and ice skating and fishing in winter. The nearest large town to Silverwood is Couer d'Alene, 22 miles south, where campers will find major sporting goods and grocery stores for supplies, as well as a downtown shopping district and restaurants. Lake Coeur d'Alene is more than 30 miles long with 109 miles of shoreline.

Read More ..... »

Camping at Rogers Rock in New York

Convenient to Interstate 87 (known locally as the Northway), Rogers Rock Campground sits on the north shore of immensely popular Lake George, at the eastern edge of New York's Adirondack Mountains. Rogers Rock itself, a steeply sloping face rising 700 feet from the water, is named for colonial soldier Richard Rogers, commander of Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War, and popularly remembered in Kenneth Roberts' novel "Northwest Passage" and in a film of the same title.

Camping

• Rogers Rock is a large facility of 332 campsites, including 11 on the Waltonian Islands, reachable only by boat. Additionally, the park has two group campgrounds that accommodate between 35 and 60 people. Although no electrical hookups for RVs are available, many other amenities are on hand, including picnic tables and fireplaces, hot showers, a trailer dumping station, a picnic pavilion and a sand beach for use through Labor Day when a lifeguard is on duty. Firewood restrictions apply.

Boating and Fishing

• Lake George is beautiful, busy and popular. Boats large and small ply its waters. Rogers Rock offers a boat launch and offshore mooring buoys. Bring your fishing tackle to go after any of pike, perch, bullhead, lake trout and brown trout, or smallmouth and largemouth bass. A fishing license (not available at the campground) is required. If you'd prefer to stay on dry land, there are many hiking trails nearby.

Read More ..... »

Port Aransas, Texas, Camping on the Beach

Port Aransas, Texas, which locals call Port A, is a laid-back city on the Gulf of Mexico that welcomes camping on its beaches. This inexpensive beach town about 40 miles from Corpus Christi is reached by bridge or free ferry. Three jurisdictions oversee year-round beach camping in Port Aransas, which means three sets of rates and rules. Nueces County oversees a designated part of the beach by Horace Caldwell Pier northeast of downtown. The city maintains the beach south of the pier. Fourteen miles southeast of downtown, but still listed with a city address, is Mustang Island State Park. This beach park is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

City Beach Camping

• If you're near the ocean in Port Aransas and don't see a sign or gate telling you otherwise, you're at a city-run beach. RV, tent and pop-up camping are free, but with a three-night limit during any three-week period. The city allows you to build a small 3-foot-by-3-foot fire on the beach. Restrooms and the occasional shower facility are on the beach. While pitching a tent doesn't cost anything, the city does require an annual beach parking permit, even if you're only camping one night. As of summer 2013, the cost of the permit was $12 per vehicle. A parking permit can be purchased at city offices, and at most grocery and convenience stores. You can spot the Port A fans who visit year after year by the number of collected annual parking permits affixed to their RV or car windows.

County Beach Campsites

• Nueces County runs I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park close to Horace Caldwell Pier in Port A. There's no parking fee, but there are camping fees and a limit of two vehicles per campsite. This beach has a multiple-shower facility accessed with a key card that was available for a $5 deposit in 2013. A primitive beach campsite without electricity or water but with access to park restroom facilities was $10 per night as of summer 2013. There also are 75 campsites for tents or RVs with water and electricity hookups for a higher cost. The beach park's shower facility is housed in a three-story building with Wi-Fi access and coin laundry facilities.

State Beach Camping

• Prices at Mustang Island State Park include a daily entrance fee for each person over the age of 13, plus additional fees for camping. The state sets a limit of eight people per campsite. Primitive drive-up camping at any undesignated spot on the beach is an additional cost. There also are 50 campsites with water and electric hookups, and a picnic table that can be rented per night or per week. Reservations for these spots can be made online. Prices are subject to change, so visit the park's website in advance to confirm prices.

Beach Breaks

• Take a break from the beach and visit Port A's kitschy souvenir shops, friendly family style restaurants and casual beach bars. Learn about the history of Port A at the Port Aransas Museum. The city's Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center has a raised boardwalk for bird-watching and offers free guided tours on Wednesdays. For marine-life fans, the Visitor's Center at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute has extensively researched sea-life displays and an Ocean Emporium with books and souvenirs.

Read More ..... »

Camping on the West Side of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, slices 277 miles through the forest and high desert of northern Arizona from east to west, revealing mauve and lavender canyon lands yawning a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide. Each year, more than 4 million visitors flock to the Grand Canyon, most visiting the easily accessed lodges and campgrounds in the park's villages near the canyon's east and central regions. A trip to the west side of the canyon, however, takes you off the beaten path, down dusty roads and knee-jarring trails teetering along sheer precipices and dropping hundreds or thousands of feet to campgrounds and backcountry campsites where you can be at one with nature away from the crowds.

Selecting a Campsite

• The Havasupai Reservation is home to a mile-long campground stretching between Havasupai and Mooney Falls 8 miles below the canyon's rim. Despite remote access, the campground can get busy in summer, and reservations are required. Within Grand Canyon National Park, Tuweep Campground provides nine first-come, first-served campsites and one reservable group site near a dramatic 3,000-foot cliff that overlooks the Colorado River. You can also reserve backcountry sites descending from various points along the western portions of the Northern Rim where you can camp near waterfalls and descend canyon trails to the shores of the Colorado River.

Access

• The western portion of the Grand Canyon is accessed by rugged roads and steep trails not for the faint of heart or weak in knee. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, spare belts and hoses and plenty of water before heading out to the campground of your choice. Access to the Havasupai campground requires driving 60 miles of backcountry road from the nearest services at Peach Springs. You will leave your vehicle behind at a secured lot and hike 8 miles into the canyon.

  Tuweep Campground is accessible from the north by car along several graded dirt routes more than 60 miles in length from Highway 389. Some routes may not be accessible during winter, summer storms or spring melt. You can access other points for backcountry camping along the western side of the Grand Canyon through Monument Point, along 45 miles of gravel road. You should be in good shape for 25 miles of hiking with an elevation change exceeding 5,000 feet each way along some of the trails descending to backcountry campsites in the canyon.

Permits

• No permit, reservations or fees are needed at Tuweep Campground. To camp at any of the designated backcountry campsites accessed from the western side of Grand Canyon National Park, you must get a backcountry camping permit. You can apply for the permit up to four months in advance through the Backcountry Office at both the South and North Rims of the canyon. At Havasupai Campground, reservations must be made in advance by calling the tribal office, or you will be charged double for your campsite.

Weather

• Depending on the elevation, temperatures can heat up to more than 100 degrees F as early as May. If hiking in to a backcountry campsite from the Northern Rim, be sure to begin at first light as you will be exposed to the sun on the south-facing rockface for the duration of your trip. May and October are the busiest months at Tuweep, when weather is mild. July and August bring summer monsoon rains to the canyon, with thunderheads building throughout the day and dropping heavy rain, thunder and lightning by late afternoon. Temperatures can drop dramatically, so bring a lightweight fleece jacket and storm gear even if you are camping in a hot area. Camping is available year-round, but access to the Northern Rim areas can sometimes be difficult during snowstorms from January through March.

Read More ..... »

Dog-Friendly Camping Sites in Fundy National Park

Just 125 miles north of Maine's northern border, Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada, cradles protected forest wilderness. Dramatic tides at the Bay of Fundy surge as much as 33 feet, making the park the site of the most extreme tides in North America. Bring your dog to romp along the tidal pools pressed into the red clay among barnacle-strewn boulders, or head inland to explore trails through the forest leading to lakes and waterfalls. For a multi-day adventure, pitch a tent or park an RV, knowing your dog is a welcome visitor to the park.

Campsite Options

• Choose from three frontcountry campgrounds or 13 backcountry sites that you can share with your pet. Chignecto North and Headquarters campgrounds (pc.gc.ca) are suitable for RVs, offering electrical, water and sewer hookups at both facilities. Children's playgrounds and handicapped-accessible sites are also available at these facilities. Point Wolf (pc.gc.ca) has no hookups and can accommodate units less than 25 feet in length. Enjoy hot showers, flush restrooms and picnic areas at all three campgrounds, which are open from May through October. Headquarters is open year round, with electric hookups available when snow conditions permit. Backcountry sites have firepits with wood, picnic tables and pit toilets. Group camping is also available.

Pet Rules

• Dogs must be kept on a leash in the campground, along the trails and in picnic areas. Your dog must be with you at all times and is prohibited from causing a disturbance to other park visitors. Don't leave your dog tied out at your campsite when you're not present, and make an effort to discourage it from barking. You are required to remove your pet's excrement and dispose of it properly whether you are in the frontcountry areas of the park or on a backcountry trail. You are responsible for keeping your dog from disturbing wildlife, whether through barking, chasing or disturbing ground-nesting birds.

Pet Safety

• Wildlife in the area includes moose, lynx, deer, foxes, and many species of birds. Don't allow your pet off-leash; even well-behaved dogs will sometimes get excited and run after wildlife, which may turn and attack. Rabies is common in areas surrounding New Brunswick and could potentially be found in the park. Do not allow your dog to sniff or lick dead animals, and make sure it is current on its rabies shot and other vaccinations. Streams and the Bay of Fundy can have powerful currents that could sweep your water-loving dog away. Make sure you are in an area safe for your pet before allowing it to play in the water.

Camping Safety

• Don't leave your dog's food, water or chew bones outside at night. Store these and any other scented items -- food, garbage, drinks, cosmetics -- out of sight in a hard-sided RV or trailer, in the trunk of your car, or in a wildlife-resistant container at least 100 feet from your sleeping area. Store dog food and other scented items in airtight containers to help keep curious bears from investigating the smell of a potential food source. Because bears will check out even the faintest scents, be sure to change out of clothing you have worn while eating or cooking. Don't leave garbage -- such as fruit peels, nut husks or seed shells -- along trails as it can draw bears to areas frequented by people that they would otherwise avoid. Dispose of fish guts from your catch of the day in a fast moving stream or in the deep water of a lake.

Read More ..... »

Camping and White-Water Rafting in Lower Gauley, West Virginia

The Gauley River pumps with 25 miles of heart-pounding rapids and is home to six weeks of river-rafting fun each autumn, known as the Gauley Fest. Rafters come from around the globe to experience the pounding hydraulics of the Upper Gauley River, with its dangerous, expert-only rapids. If your skill level or heart isn't quite ready for rapids rated Class 5 on the International Scale of River Difficulty, you can take it down a notch to the challenging Class 4 action found on the lower portion of the river.

Rafting Season

• The Lower Gauley encompasses the last 11 miles of the river before its confluence with the New River. While it can be runnable year-round, you can take a tour with commercial companies on the river from spring through autumn. Water levels fluctuate throughout the summer, depending on rainfall, and releases from the Summersville Dam. You can count on raftable levels Friday through Monday for at least five consecutive weekends, with additional weekend days wrapping up the season in late October. The flow is reduced during the week during October for fishing purposes, with fish stocked at the beginning of the month.

River Characteristics

• During Gauley season, flows are scheduled between 1800 to 2800 cfs. Flows may drop below 1800 cfs, changing the character of the river and revealing additional rocks and undercuts. Although the Lower Gauley is not quite as wild as the Upper, you won't feel slighted as you run numerous big rapids with colorful names such as Pure Screaming Hell, Chickenender, Hell Hole and Gateway to Heaven. The gradient on the river varies from 26 to 30 fpm, and in addition to the regular boat-sucking holes, undercut ledges and visible strainers, you'll need to watch out for barely-submerged hazards, such as logs and tree branches pointing upstream.

Camping

• You can camp in the Gauley River National Recreation area as long as you ensure you are on federal land, use Leave No Trace ethics, and make your camp at least 100 feet from any trail, structure, river access point or cliff. Camp along the Summersville Lake just above the release dam at Battle Run Campground (corpslakes.usace.army.mil) in one of 107 campsites that provide pull-through sites, electric hookups, a dump station, laundry facilities and drinking water. After a challenging day on the river, wash away the sand in a hot shower and enjoy the convenience of flush toilets. Wander nature trails, play volleyball or romp with the kids on the playground. Walk-in tent sites also are available at the campground. Private campgrounds are in the towns of Summersville and Mount Nebo.

Wildlife

• In addition to the inherent dangers that come from tackling the huge white water in the river, beware of dangers on land as well. Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads are protected in the Gauley River National Recreation Area, so retreat to a safe distance if you happen to see one. Watch where you put your hands and feet along the river and your campsite. If hiking, bring a stout stick to tap the ground ahead of you when climbing over rocks or around bushes where you don't have a line of sight to what's on the other side. Other poisonous creatures found in the area include the brown recluse and black widow spiders.

Read More ..... »

Camping at San Diego's Animal Park

If you've wondered what it might be like on an African safari, camping in outfitter tents with lions roaring in the distance, you won't have to leave the continent to find out. A trip to San Diego Zoo's Safari Park (sdzsafaripark.org), the city's premiere animal park, provides a variety of tent accommodations -- including outfitter tents -- and evening programs where you can stay the night and observe the park's 300 species of animals roam 1,800 acres.

Roar and Snore

• Experience San Diego Zoo's Safari Park in its off hours with guided walks, tasty meals and campfire programs at your choice of Roar and Snore Safaris. The experiences range from adult-only sleepovers to those designed for the entire family, kids only, or all ages. Book a premium tent for the most luxurious accommodations, including electricity, a queen bed, area rug and wooden floor in a roomy 12-by-16-foot accommodation where all linens and pillows are provided. Smaller 9-by-14 tents have vinyl floors over a dirt tent pad where you must provide your own bedding for the 3-inch sleeping pads. The fun takes place on weekend nights from February through November. Dinner and breakfast are provided.

Summer Camp

• Kids as young as those in third grade can experience overnight camping with animal education programs and hands-on adventures designed for their age level. Critter Caper Campout gives kids in grades three through six three days and two overnights at the park. The kids investigate animal behavior through activities such as following animal tracks and dissecting owl pellets. Older kids in grades six through eight get hands-on opportunities to observe and assist zookeepers and trainers at a five-day Animal Care Boot Camp. Kids help feed giraffes and rhinos, monitor animal behavior with a field biologist, and visit the park's animal hospital to see veterinarians in action. Day-camp adventures also are available at the park.

Accessibility

• The Roar and Snore Campground meets ADA guidelines, including wheelchair-accessible restroom facilities. Some behind-the-scenes areas of the park are not accessible by wheelchair. Your service animal is welcome, but cannot accompany you in certain areas of the park. Kennels are provided on site if you wish to visit these areas, and you can call ahead for someone to assist you in areas where your service animal cannot go. Electric conveyance vehicles and wheelchairs can be rented at the park's main entrance, and you can ride a shuttle to areas of the park not accessible by wheelchair.

What to Bring

• If you are staying in a premium tent, you only need to bring a duffel bag or suitcase with your clothing for the evening and following day. Suggested items include comfortable closed-toe walking shoes, sleepwear, and a jacket or sweatshirt. Insects can be plentiful on summer evenings, so plan on long sleeves and long pants, or bring insect repellent. If you're not staying in the premium tent, you also need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Expect nighttime temperatures ranging from 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Although daytime temperatures generally remain in the 60- to 70-degree range year-round, temperatures as high as 111 degrees have been recorded in San Diego. Remember to bring a telephoto lens for your camera, and a spotting scope or binoculars.

Read More ..... »

Camping Near the Bay of Fundy

Fishing boats sit amid shallow puddles that wouldn’t even float a toy boat, tied to docks that tower overhead: Such is the Bay of Fundy at low tide, renowned for the most dramatic tidal shifts on the planet. Situated north of Maine’s border with Canada, the Bay of Fundy stretches 170 miles between the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The tides vary by as much as 50 feet every six hours, with as much as a mile between water’s edge and some boat docks when the tide is at its lowest. You can explore for days along the bay to see tidal effects such as rivers running upstream, tidal bores, and giant whirlpools, and can stay close to the action at a number of campgrounds around the bay.

Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia provides camping opportunities ranging from remote walk-in tent sites in provincial parks to upgraded amenities at private RV parks. You’ll see the most dramatic effects of the tide in the northern part of the bay. Wide-Open Wilderness Family Campground near Maitland has a viewing area where you can witness a tidal bore as it rushes back upstream, and provides hookups, camping cabins, hot showers, planned activities and playgrounds. For a remote experience, choose from walk-in and wilderness sites at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Advocate Harbour. Explore the coastal trail system, see dramatic tidal shifts on the beach, or take in views from the towering cliffs.

New Brunswick

• You may be lucky enough to hear the breaching of whales in the night along their feeding route off the coast of Grand Manan Island. Hole-In-the-Wall Park and Campground provides walk-in tent campsites along the island cliffs, or drive-in sites for small trailers, with great views of the bay a little farther back from the edge. The campground also provides camping cabins and sites for larger RVs, along with hot showers, Wi-Fi, laundry and a kitchenette at the park’s entrance. Among the other many camping options in New Brunswick, you can find both serviced and unserviced sites in provincial parks and private facilities, as well as at Fundy National Park.

Fog

• Dense fog is common throughout the bay, caused by warm summer air meeting the 45-degree Fahrenheit water. The fog can put a damp chill on early morning plans, but usually dissipates by mid-morning. Fog horns warn fishing boats away from dangerous areas, and can seem very loud in the predawn hours when you’re trying to catch a few Zs in your tent. Check with the campground where you intend to camp regarding the proximity of nearby foghorns before booking your site, if you anticipate this being a hindrance to your camping experience.

Safety

• Campgrounds on the edge of the sea cliffs do not, in most instances, provide safety rails. Camping on a cliff’s edge is not recommended for families with small children. Select a site farther back, or choose from the many inland campgrounds. Water advances about one inch per minute when tides are rolling in. Don’t leave chairs or other belongings on the beach while you take a walk or they may be washed out to sea. The tide produces powerful currents, which can be dangerous when swimming or kayaking. When in doubt, head to a provincial park that provides a swimming beach or kayaking area.

Read More ..... »